Lettings agency launches new enterprise

Two Warwickshire-based property entrepreneurs, who harnessed the power of the Internet to drive forward their fledgling letting agency, have launched a second arm to their increasingly successful business venture.

South African-born brothers Jonathan and Matthew Daines originally set up their online letting agency seven years ago with just a handful of clients. Now, with premises on Henley-in-Arden High Street, their business, www.LettingaProperty.com, which represents the interests of more than 19,500 private landlords across the UK, has spawned a sister-company, SellingaProperty.com

“The big advantage to the way we operate is that we can save people literally thousands of pounds compared to what they would have to pay in fees to a traditional estate agent, “said chief executive Jonathan Daines. “In fact, the online letting agency has been received so well that we have now introduced a similar site for those who wish to sell a property.”

Since its launch, www.LettingaProperty.com has let more than 4,600 properties across the UK and attracted 34,600 tenants to its books. Not only can the company invariably achieve better rental prices for its landlord clients, but, as a one-stop shop, it also sorts out requirements such as tenancy agreements, insurance and energy performance and gas safety certificates. Generally, online agents can charge a lower fee for a tenant-finding service and can offer landlords monthly packages or pay-as-you-go deals for additional services.

“We don’t have the huge overheads that traditional estate agents have and when we saw a niche in the market for a company that saves clients time, money and hassle we went ahead and created the business that we have now,” said Jonathan, who developed his knowledge of the industry after a career with a chain of property agents.

“By using the latest technology, knowledge of the sector and a cost-administration we believe we offer the public a great service,” said Matthew, who is chief operating officer. “Not only that but we have the industry recognition to prove it,” he added, acknowledging a number of accolades since 2009, when it received top marks in an independent Property Ombudsman survey, and online awards such as its 2012 success in winning the Landlord Buy To Let Awards for Best Website.

Before moving to the West Midlands 13 years ago, the brothers, who now reside in Dorridge, Solihull, lived and worked in different parts of the world before linking up in the UK to start out on their entrepreneurial business journey.